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One of our core values is Community. As a part of living this value, we are actively involved in the community. Whether it is public service campaigns promoting safety or giving scholarships to local Community College students, we always strive to find new ways to help our neighbors. This holiday season, we have decided to try something new! We are asking you who you think deserves a helping hand this holiday season.

You can suggest a charity, special project, or individual/family who you think needs a little extra help. The amount of the gift will be dependent on the suggestion and our ability to help. If your suggestion is chosen, you will also receive a $25 gas card.

Please email your suggestions to us at CTCares@CountryTruck.net. Please submit your suggestions by midnight on December 15th, 2017.

When you think of soy, I bet you think of Asian cuisine,
salad filler or milk. However, you should be thinking of tires!

For about the past 5 years, Goodyear has been researching using
soy bean oil in its tires. In 2012, they announced that they were beginning to
investigate practical applications for soy bean oil in tires. Research had
shown that soybean oil-based tire tread lasts 10% longer than its traditional
counterpart. Also, that it blends better during the manufacturing process, which
Goodyear thought would improve tire plant efficiency and reduce energy
consumption.

Flash forward to 2017, they are now ready for the
tires to hit the road en masse. Their subsequent tests have shown that their initial
hypotheses in 2012 were correct. A Goodyear team of scientists and engineers
created a tread compound/formulation using soybean oil, which is helping Goodyear
enhance tire performance in dry, wet and winter conditions. According to their
recent press release, “Goodyear found
a new way to help keep the rubber compound pliable in changing temperatures, a
key performance achievement in maintaining and enhancing the vehicle’s grip on
the road surface.”

They chose soy because it is naturally derived,
cost-effective, carbon-neutral and renewable. Up until 2012, there were no
synthetic alternatives to natural rubber. The rubber trade is dominated by
Asian imports and many in the industry thought it was time to find alternatives
to break away from the Asian market dominance, as supplies are shrinking and
prices increasing.

Eric Mizner, Goodyear’s Director of Global Materials Science indicated
that this was not the end of their quest to find new ways to improve upon their
tires, but rather just the beginning. “Goodyear’s legacy of innovation drives
us to continue to apply new technology solutions, developing superior
performing tires that meet consumer demands,” he was quoted as saying in the
press release.

In the age of big data breaches, you are probably keeping
your personal data secure. Right? Well there may be one area that you may have
overlooked. Your vehicle! If your phone is linked to your vehicle, your
personal data is in its on-board computer.

Your vehicle is now a hub of all the data from your paired
devices and it’s all stored on the hard drive of your on-board computer. If someone
physically got a hold of that unit, they can extract the data from it. Recently,
we took in a vehicle on trade and found that the former owner had left all his
contact information from his phone in the computer of the vehicle. Beyond your
contacts, your vehicle may be recording a lot more than you realize! It can
record your contacts, your location history, your text messages, and web
browsing history.

How can you protect
your data? If you follow these 3 steps, you will ensure that the next owner
of your vehicle does not get your sensitive information too!

Delete your data!
Consult your owner’s manual to see how to do this. Don’t have the manual? Most
automakers have them online now!

Don’t plug your phone
in the USB Port to charge! If you don’t need to link your phone, don’t plug
it into the built in USB port to charge. Often, your vehicle will automatically
pull the data off of your phone if you do this. Instead, use a cigarette adapter
to charge your phone the old school way.

What are we doing to
protect you?

If you trade in your vehicle with us at Country Truck &
Auto, we will ensure all of your data is deleted before we resell it. If you
have more questions on this process, please call our Service Manager at
(303)990-7050. If you have other questions related to trading in a vehicle,
please call our Sales Manager at (303)857-1281.

Each year Country Truck &
Auto awards 5 scholarships to high school seniors. There are four $500 awards
and one $1,000 award. What makes our program unique is that the awards are
given to students who plan on attending a Vocational/Trade School or Community/Junior
College. There are fewer scholarship options available for these students and
often, they are in more financial need. Many top high school students opt for
two-year programs, because the cost of attending a 4-year school is too much
for them and their families to afford.

To be eligible, students must be high
school seniors and/or be edible to graduate at the end of the current school
year. They may attend any public, private, parochial high school; be home
schooled; or be attending an accredited high school online. They must also be enrolled
in their first year of post-secondary education at an accredited
community/junior college or vocational/trade school.

Students are chosen based on
their community involvement, work experience, and a letter of recommendation.
They must also have a minimum GPA of 2.0. For more information about the
scholarship program, contact Rhonda Whistance via email at RhondaW@CountryTruck.net or by phone
at (303)857-1281.

2017 County Truck &
Auto Scholarship Recipients

$1,000 Recipient:

Shawn Chacon – Valley High School

Shawn is enrolled in the Associates of Applied
Sciences Automotive Program at AIMS Community College. He has a strong passion
for automotive technology and plans to make it his career. He hopes that by
learning how to repair automobiles, he will be able to finally provide his
family with a reliable vehicle. His hope is to be able to ensure that
automotive repair is accessible to everyone who needs it, regardless of income.
He has a cumulative GPA of 3.645 and plays for the Valley High School Baseball
Team. He works summers for Weld County School District RE-1 in the Buildings
and Grounds Department. In his spare time, he is also involved in CSU Talent
Search and is the Manager of the Softball Team.

$500 Recipients:

Bailee Hatch – Platte Valley High School

Bailee is enrolled at Garden City Community College,
with plans to transfer to Kansas State University. She is studying
Pre-Veterinarian Medicine and has already attended classes at AIMS Community
College and the University of Northern Colorado while still in high school. Her
cumulative GPA is 3.77 and she is heavily involved in the community and
extra-curricular activities, including 4-H, National Honor Society, and Spanish
Club.

Neal Ditson – Platte Valley High School

Neal is enrolled at WyoTech, where he plans on
completing their Diesel Technician and Advanced Diesel Technologies Programs.
While at Platte Valley High School, he has played both football and wrestling. He
maintains a cumulative GPA of 3.75. He is also involved with his local FFA
chapter and Lyons Club. He has worked at Hunter Ridge Dairy and the Northern
Priming & Pre-Station while attending school.

Kellie Buchholz – Weld Central High School

Kellie is enrolled at AIMS Community College, with plans
to transfer to the University of Northern Colorado. She wants to study Special
Education and still finish in 4 years, graduating by 2021. She has a cumulative
GPA of 3.5. While at Weld Central High School, she has participated in cheerleading
for all four years and was selected to be Senior Cheer Captain this year.

Cesar Mercado – Valley High School

Cesar is enrolled in the Associates of Applied Sciences
Automotive Program at AIMS Community College. He is passionate about helping
his community. He wants to open his own automotive business when he finishes
his program. He plays for the Valley High School Baseball Team. He works at
McDonalds and for Weld Count School District RE-1 during the summers. He is
also interested in construction and drafting.

As you can imagine,
when the Denver Auto Show is going, we’re there! This auto show is specifically
designed to highlight new cars, trucks and SUVs that are from the latest model
year. It is like a little sneak peak of what you can expect to find on our lot
in the future. What makes the Denver Auto Show unique is that it is the premier
showcase for domestic automakers. As we carry mostly RAM (Dodge), Chevrolet, Ford
and GMC trucks, those were where we spent most of our time. However, we also
popped by the luxury car booths to see if any of them were up to the challenge
of being Dirt Road Ready®.

RAM

We were most excited
to check out the latest RAM offerings! Because they are “America’s
longest-lasting pickups,” we carry more of these than any other maker. We want
to make sure that our trucks are Dirt Road Ready® for years to come.

Whether for work, play, or every day, one of the main complaints about a pickup is storage of smaller items. Sure, you can drop a load of lumber in the bed, no problem. But what happened to your tool box once you hit that roughly grooved dirt road? RAM was highlighting their RamBox® Cargo Management options at their booth. RamBox® allows you to store your smaller items in hidden compartments along your bed or underneath, leaving ample storage in your bed for larger items.

Chevrolet

JD Power and
Associates ranked the 2017 Chevy Silverado HD as the “Highest Ranked Large Heavy
Duty Pickup in Initial Quality” and we can see why. Their focus has been on
maximizing the Silverado’s torque numbers. With the available Duramax® 6.6-liter
Turbo-Diesel V8, you can experience peak torque at 910 lb-ft! The Silverado
also boasts a whopping 20,000 lbs of conventional towing capability.

Ford

For 2017, Ford has
taken their motto, Built Ford Tough®, to the next level. In their Super Duty
pickups, they switched to using an all-new, military grade, aluminum alloy for
the body. This drastically lowered the weight of the truck, allowing them to beef-up
the strength of the chassis and frame, while lowering the overall weight of the
truck by up to 350 pounds!

GMC

Are you in the market
for a truck that does not make you the neighborhood pariah when you have to be
at the job site by 6am everyday? Look no further than the 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 HD
Denali! This year GMC has added some features that makes it the quietest idling
Duramax® diesel on the market.

Mercedes

We could not resist
going and drooling over the luxury cars and exotics. However, we were surprised
to find that Mercedes has upped its game. Their new G-550 4x42 is
the epitome of Dirt Road Ready®. Its gear-driven portal axles and 22-inch
wheels create over 17 inches of ground clearance. Also its dual spring-struts
and 10 inches of added track ensure that you can conquer any off-road terrain
you encounter. However, the luxury details in the cabin mean that you’ll arrive
in style.

There is still time to
check out the Denver Auto Show! It runs until 6:00 p.m. today. If you can’t
make it, keep your eyes peeled. These beauties are already on the road!

Jas Searer-McMahon recently
bought a truck from one of our salespeople, Ken Mathern. That is when we
learned about her local business and the remarkable sport of endurance riding.
Jas has been a Horse Breeder at Magic Valley Ranch for over twenty years. At
the ranch, they breed and train Akhal-Teke horses. This breed originates in
Central Asia and are well suited for Colorado’s climate and elevation. They are
also great endurance horses, which is where Jas’ passion lies.

Jas has been participating in
the sport of endurance riding since the 1980’s. Endurance riding involves racing
a horse over a cross country trail between 50-100 miles long. Like with
marathon running, the primary goal of the competition for most riders is to
finish and improve upon their best time.

Jas is no ordinary rider,
however! She has logged almost 7,000 miles with the American Endurance Ride Conference
(AERC) and her current horse, MV Patrickhan (which she bred and trained
at her ranch), received a 3,000-mile medallion from AERC at the end of the 2016
Season. The American Endurance Ride Conference (AERC) oversees the sport of
endurance riding in the US.

She competes mostly in the
Mountain Region. However, she recently participated in the oldest 100-mile race
in the US, the Tevis Cup, which takes place in California’s Sierra Mountains. In
2001, she also followed nearly the entire length of the 1,900-mile Pony Express
Route in the XP Ride. Contestants rode from St. Joseph, MO to Virginia City,
NV; riding 50 miles a day, 5 days per week, for 8 weeks!

This year, Jas will begin the
competition season with a 5-day, 250-mile endurance ride in Southern Utah. She
is a role model for women and equestrians alike! That is why she is our first inaugural
“Cool Customer.”

So, you’re ready for a new
truck, SUV, or car? You have done your homework and decided just exactly what
you want. There is only one snag, your current vehicle. You have a few options
when deciding how to sell your old vehicle: sell it privately, send it to
auction, or trade it in.

Selling it privately can be a
hassle. You have to do all of the marketing and vetting buyers yourself. Also,
you limit your pool of potential buyers to those who have ready money to buy a
vehicle, which means it could sit in your driveway with that “for sale” sign on
it for months.

Sending a vehicle to an auto
auction seem tempting. You don’t have to market the vehicle and you can get it
off of your hands quickly. However, you will only get the wholesale value of
your car, which is way less than what you can get for selling it privately and
still much less than what you can get for a trade-in.

Trading in your vehicle at the
dealership you plan to buy from is a great middle-ground option. You get a bit
more for your old vehicle, but you don’t have to hassle with selling it yourself.
But how do you get the most money back on your trade?

Let’s start with understanding
how trade-in value is determined. There are four factors determine the trade-in value:

Year: Newer models get the most attention from used-car and
truck shoppers. When the salesperson thinks they will be able to sell it
quickly, they are more willing to pay a higher price for it.

Make and model: If the model holds value or is in high
demand, the trade-in amount will be more competitive. Also, keep in mind what
makes and models are popular in your area. A small sedan may be very popular in
the city, because of space concerns, but it may not be as valuable in the
country, where trucks are in much higher demand.

Condition: Both the exterior and interior appearance are
a component of the vehicle's appraised value. So, vehicles in better repair
will fetch a higher trade-in value than those that are damaged and dirty.

Mileage: The higher the mileage, the lower the trade-in
value. Even if the vehicle's condition is impeccable, a high mileage vehicle
may make a consumer less willing to purchase it at a price comparable to other
similar vehicles.

Now that you understand where the value is determined, how do
you swing the needle in your favor?

1.Ensure Maintenance is Up-to-Date:

You don’t need to shell out tons of cash to ensure your maintenance
is up-to-date. However, if you put off some regular maintenance or service, now
would be the time to address that. If you have gotten any recall notices, make
sure that you get those done immediately, for your safety for the remainder of
time you drive the car/truck and for the safety of the next driver. Also,
dealerships have gotten those notices too and will check to make sure that the
necessary repairs were done. Do you have warning lights displaying? Get the
issues diagnosed and fixed. If you have
copies of your service records, that’s even better!

2.Do Any Necessary Body Work:

Did you swipe a pole at the drive-thru or in the parking garage at work? Did you get stuck
behind a gravel truck that was spitting rocks? If so, now is also the time to
repair the dings and paint nicks and scratches. A body shop will charge much
less than what a dealer will take off the value on a trade-in. Also, if your
car is visibly dirty, take it through the car wash on the way to trade it in.
Basically, make sure that the car looks as good as possible on the outside to
maximize the value of the trade.

3.Thoroughly Detail the Interior of the Vehicle:

Now that you have the outside looking good, don’t forget the
inside. We all practically live in our vehicles, so they start to show that
wear. Just because you think it looks ‘fine’ doesn’t mean the dealership will.
Make sure that you vacuum the floors, upholstery, and trunk/hatch area. Remove
all the trash and personal items. Clean the windows, doors, dashboard, gauges, handles,
levers/gear shifter(s), compartments/glove box, and that area below your rear
windshield.

Having a keen attention to detail will mean that you get the
best possible trade-in on your old vehicle, which will make buying your new
car, truck or SUV just a little more affordable!

If you have been to
our lot recently, you may have noticed something a little different... or the
same. We have brought in a large number of neutral colored trucks. As much fun
as a red or blue truck is, a recent automotive color study shows that consumers
in most of the world favor neutral colored vehicles. Axalta Coating Systems
conducted a world-wide study of consumers and released their results in
January.

Regional Color Popularity:

Worldwide: White continues to reign supreme, with four of every 10
new vehicles sold being white.

North America: Gray is gaining popularity, rising 2% in popularity and
lengthening its lead over other neutral shades like white and silver.

Asia: In China, more than half of vehicles sold are
white. Japan prefers pearl white at 29% to solid white at 7%.

Europe: At 17%, gray is more popular here than any other
region.

Russia: Beige is most popular, but only by a small margin of 8%
of new vehicles sold.

Africa: Light colors are most favored here. Silver and
white combined make up 63% of new vehicles sold

South America: Continuing in their cultural tradition of embracing
bright colors, South America is the exception to the rule. Green is the
most popular color there.

So, If you are in the
market for a crisp and classy looking white, gray, beige, or silver truck, you
are in good company. Also, you will find just exactly what you're looking for
at Country
Truck & Auto. If by chance we don't have what you're looking for, we will find it for you!

The importance of wearing a seat belt is not a new idea. However, many people do not wear seat belts, especially in rural areas (according to CDOT). The problem is especially common in Colorado, where approximately 17.6% of drivers regularly do not wear a seat belt (according to NHTSA).

In light of several traffic accidents in the local area where the passengers were not wearing their seat belt, Country Truck & Auto owner, Rhonda Whistance, decided to create a safety awareness campaign that will bring attention to the importance of wearing a seat belt. Her approach is new, however. She has created window stickers that will go on the inside of the windshield to remind drivers to buckle up. The variety of themes from bold and graphic, to humorous, to heartfelt, are meant to get the driver's attention and underscore the importance of buckling up.

Rhonda and other members of the Country Truck & Auto Team will speak at local schools and community groups about the importance of wearing your seat belt 100% of the time. If you would like someone to speak to your school or group, please call the office at (303)857-1281.

All season/summer tires are designed to withstand the heat generated from the road. However, they are not necessarily well equipped to handle cold weather. They stiffen in cold weather, which means that the traction they provide diminishes. That coupled with icy, snowy, and/or slushy conditions can mean that you have little to no traction when driving.

Winter tires are designed to handle these challenges. They are made of a different type of rubber that remains flexible in the cold. Further, their tread patterns are designed to provide extra traction. The treads are deeper and have increased slots and sipes. Sipes are small slits in the tire that act like teeth – biting the ice as you drive.

Where do you mount them?

There are several schools of thought on this topic. Tire manufacturers want you to get a full set of snow tires. They say that this is the best option for traction and control. However, this can get expensive. Beyond the cost of 4 tires, there are other cost considerations. If you just want the tires to be installed on your vehicle, then you need to pay a technician to mount and balance them (or do it yourself).

Some people, especially do-it-yourselfers, like to just have an extra set of wheels with the winter tires already attached to save time and make the transition easier. However, if you need to have a shop switch the wheels for you, they will want you to have tire pressure monitoring sensors in your extra wheels to comply with national tire industry guidelines. So, this ends up being the most expensive option, because you have to pay for 4 tires, 4 wheels, and 4 pressure sensors + labor.

A cost-effective approach is to only get two snow tires, but that begins the debate of where to mount them on the car. According to our Service Manager, David Robinson, traction tires should go on the drive axle, so that means if your car is front-wheel-drive, they would go on the front. The wheels where the power comes from are where you need the added traction control.

However, most tire shops will not mount them this way. They maintain that traction tires should go on the back. Their reasoning is that many drivers have a hard time with overcoming understeer in a slide/hydroplaning situation. They are not willing to risk the liability of you getting into an accident, because you cannot drive in adverse conditions.

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